Nigerian deported from
Ireland in comaLast Thursday 28th March 2002, Alabi Ayinde and five other
Nigerians were put on a private charter flight to Lagos, accompanied
by around 20 Irish immigration guards.

On arrival in Lagos the six were handed over to Nigerian immigration
officials who then took the six to prison. At the prison the
governor refused to accept Alabi as was unconscious. Alabi was
taken to a nearby hospital where he was diagnosed as being in
a coma, he remains there surrounded by prison guards.

Background

Alabi, was first assaulted by immigration guards on the 11th
March after his appeal hearing, when he lost his final appeal
against deportation. The decision was bizarre as Alabi has an
Irish son and the parents of Irish born children cannot be deported.

On the 12th March Alabi and 5 other Nigerians plus 2 Algerians
began a hunger strike in Mountjoy prison. Attempts to deport
some of these on the 21st March failed as they resisted. Immigration
Guards tried to control the detainees and among others Alabi
sustained further injuries. Another attempt to deport Alabi and
the others took place on the 28th March. This time the Irish
authorities had hired a private plane and brought in extra immigration
guards. All the six detainees according to reports were very
forcibly removed from Mountjoy prison and taken to the plane.